Screw driver



Apr. 3, 1923 1,450,203

' P. DE BROWN SCREW DRIVER Filed Nov. 25, 1921 2 sheets-sheet l dgi m Ql M.

ffol neg Apr. 3, 1923 P. DE BROWN SCREW DRIVER 2 sheets-shet 2 FiledNOV. 25, 1921 Patented Apr. 3, 1923.

UNITED STATES PETER DE BROWN, OF BAY CITY, MICHIGAN.

scnnw DRIVER.

Application filed November'25, 1921. Serial No. 517,517.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PETER DE BROWN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Bay City, in the county of Bay and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ScrewDrivers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to screw drivers and the like.

One object'of the invention is to design a tool. of this characterhaving a barrel or casing into which the screws are inserted, and inwhich they are automatically centered and held until forced into thework by the screw driver blade.

Another object is to provide a simple and inexpensive tool having itslower end formed with a plurality of curved resilient figures betweenwhich the screw is adapted to be forced as it is being removed from itsseat, thereby preventing its falling to the floor.

A still further object is to provide a tool in which the screw driverblade can be r0- tated independently of the barrel or casing, and alsoto provide means whereby the said blade may be retracted to allow thescrew to be inserted in the barrel.

\Vith the above and other objects in view the present invention consistsin the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fullydescribed, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and particularlypointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes maybe made in the form, size, proportion and minor details of construction,without departing from the spirit or sacrificingany of the advantages 4of the invention.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a front view of my improved tool illustratinga screw in positionin the barrel.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, the screw driver blade being shownretracted, and a screw being placed in the barrel, the dotted linesillustrating the screw held and centered by the resilient fingers.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, the end of the screw driver bladebeing shown extended out of the barrel or casing.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, the top knbb being removed and alaterally extending ratcheting mechanism and a different handle beingattached for heav work.

Fig. 5 is a top plan, view of ig. 4, taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a transverse'sectional view taken with a series of curvedresilient fingers 2 being bent intermediate their length as shown at 2*to form a restricted opening, the ends being flared outwardly; Anopening 3 is provided in the side of the barrel for introducing thescrew. The top of the barrel or casing is open, and is interiorlythreaded to receive the exteriorly' threaded member 4, which is formedwith a squared flange portion 4 adapted to form a closure for this endof the barrel, a central opening 5 is provided in this member 4 and isadapted to receive the reduced shank portion 6 of a screw driver blade7, the top portion of this shank, is squared as shown .at 8 and isadapted to receive a handle or knob 9 which is detachably securedthereto, a coiled compression spring 10 is carried on the shank 6 insideof the barrel, one end resting against the shoulder 6 formed on thelower end of the screw driver, anda washer 11 is interposed between thetop of the spring and the member 4, as the opening 5 is suflicientlylarge to allow the squared portion 8 to be the handle or knob 9 isforced to position as shown in Fig. 2, compressing the spring in thebarrel, the lower end or blade of the screw driver will then be abovethe opening 3, the screw 12 is then inserted in the barrel and falls topositionas shown in dotted lines in the same figure, the handle is thenreleased, the point of the screw driver blade being forced against thehead of the screw by the spring 10, and when the knob is rotated thepoint will enter the slot in the screw, the screw driver blade is ofcourse centered in the barrel by reason; of the shoulder 6, and thescrew is centered by the inwardly curved resilient fingers 2, the

small end of the screw projects beyond the ends of the fingers, and canbe readily inserted in theopening and continuously rotating and forcinginwardly of the knob 9, will quickly turn the screw to its seat. I wishto direct particular attention to the fact that the shape of the fingerssupports the entire screw, the head expanding the fingers as it isforced through them. This is a decided advantage, and much time is savedwhen it is necessary to insert small screws into openings in a recesswhere it is almost impossible to get two fingers, which is necessary tostart the screw when using an ordinary screw driver, this is especiallydiflicult when the workman is forced to lie on his back and insert thescrews by hand, as for instance in automobile assembling and repairing.It is also distinctively advantageous in removing screws and the like.\Vhen using the ordinary screw driver. the screws fall on the floor indirt and debris.

with my improved tool, the blade is forced beyond the ends of thefingers as shown in member 4* together with the screw driverproper isremoved from the barrel, the screw is then inserted from the top and themembers 4: and 7 placed in position the spring 10 compensating for thedifference in the length of the screw. In the event that wood screws arebeing screwed into hard wood, or should it be hard to turn the screwdriver by means of the knob member 9; this knob may be detached, and ahandle 13 having a ratcheting attachment 14 placed over the squaredportion of the screw driver shank, another handle 15 can then be securedon the end of the squared portion 8, and the screw driver can be readilyturned,

the operator can feed the tool into the work by forcing inwardly on thehandle 15 and the blade can be readily rotated by the handle 13.

-The tool may be used for other purposes such as countersinking,drilling and the like if desired, it is merely necessary to provide ashoulder near the lower end of the shank against which the spring may beabutted. From the foregoing description it will therefore be obviousthat I have perfected a very simple and inexpensive tool by means ofwhich screws are automatically held and centered and can be threadedinto an opening without the operator holding it with his fingers,and'which will also expand and allow the screw to enter the barrel ofthe tool and prevent its falling in the dirt and debris.

\Vhat I claim is:-

1. In a tool of the class described including a barrel having aplurality of yieldable fingers formed integral therewith. said fingersbeing bent inwardly intermediate their length. the ends being flared(mtwardly, a screw driver slidably and rotatably mounted in the casing.a shoulder on the lower end of the screw driver a spring interposedbetween the said shoulder and the top end of the casing for forcing saidscrew driver outwardly, and a handle detachably secured to the oppositeend of the screw driver.

2. In a tool of the class described including a barrel provided with ascrew receiving opening. and a plurality of yieldable fingers formedintegral with the lower end thereof. said fingers being curved inwardlyto form a restricted opening intermediate their length. the ends beingflared. a screw driver slidably mounted in the barrel and provided witha shoulder formed on the lower end thereof. a closure for the upper endof the barrel, a coiled spring interposed between the said shoulder andthe top of the casing, and a handle detachably secured to the upper endof the screw driver. I

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

PETER DE- BROWN.

